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Vernon Corea - The Broadcaster presenting a radio programme in a studio.

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Tag Archives: Nihal Bhareti

Radio Ceylon popularised Lyn Anderson’s huge hit ‘Rose Garden,’ throughout the 1970s. Sady she passed away in 2015 aged 67 years of age. The legendary Sri Lankan broadcaster Nihal Bhareti played her hit on his request programmes.

The veteran broadcasters of Radio Ceylon now the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC).

Vernon Corea’s daughter, Ouida Corea-Wickramaratne recently visited Sri Lanka in July 2014. She visited the iconic Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and met with the veteran Sri Lankan broadcasters. Photographs show Ouida Corea-Wickramaratne with Nihal Bhareti who had a very distinctive voice – he joined Radio Ceylon in the 1960s and still presents radio programmes over the airwaves of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Ouida, daughter of Vernon Corea met with the veteran Tamil announcer of Radio Ceylon/Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Kailayar Sellanainar Sivakumaran in Colombo Sri Lanka. Siva knew Vernon very well. He has presented radio programmes over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon from the 1960s. Both Nihal and Siva knew broadcaster Vernon Corea when he was with Radio Ceylon/SLBC.

The ‘Music We Grew Up With’ team at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

A rare photograph of the two broadcasting ‘giants’ of Radio and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation – Vernon Corea here with Vijaya and Ranjini Corea and their children Viran and Sashika Corea in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Vernon Corea’s cousin Vijaya Corea will be a guest on ‘Music We Grew Up with’ on the airwaves of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. The radio programme will be broadcast live on Saturday on the 4th of January 2014 Nostalgic moments comes alive with Vijaya Corea 0900-1100 local time on Radio Sri Lanka. Please send in your messages to Vijaya on FB-Radio Ceylon. You could also call in on studio C3 +94112694316 during the program.

‘Music We Grew Up With’ is hosted by Nihal Bhareti, Sunil Simon and the SLBC team. It has become a hugely popular radio programme in Sri Lanka and overseas.

Des Kelly paid a tribute to Vernon Corea over the airwaves of Radio Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in Colombo.

The legendary Radio Ceylon and SLBC Broadcaster Vernon Corea

‘Vernon was a great Broadcaster, we looked up to Vernon Corea,’ said Australian star Des Kelly recently on ‘Music We Grew Up With,’ fronted by top Sri Lankan broadcasters Nihal Bhareti and Sunil Simon. Desmond Kelly spoke highly about Vernon Corea and Radio Ceylon. He said ‘Radio Ceylon is where I started,’ he paid tribute to Vernon Corea who help him climb the ladder of fame.

Jude Goonewardene, admin of the Radio Ceylon Facebook Group had organised for Des Kelly to be interviewed on ‘Music We Grew Up With’ on Radio Sri Lanka.

Listen to Des Kelly on ‘Music We Grew Up With,’ on Radio Sri Lanka on Sound Cloud –

Nihal Bhareti is one of the most popular broadcasters over the airwaves of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Listeners can still listen to his silky voice on the Commercial Service of the SLBC.

Millions tuned in to hear Nihal Bhareti on popular radio programmes such as ‘Radio Journal.’ Nihal Bhareti joined Radio Ceylon in the 1960s, at the time the station enjoyed iconic status as ‘King of the Airwaves’ in South Asia. Nihal Bhareti joined the band of distinguished broadcasters who made Radio Ceylon into a very successful brand.

Nihal Bhareti was mentored by the pioneering Radio Ceylon broadcaster Vernon Corea. Nihal has visited Vernon Corea at Maha Nuge Gardens. When a Memorial Service was held in 2002 to celebrate Vernon’s life at St.Luke’s Church Borella in Sri Lanka, Nihal Bhareti was present with Clifford Basanayake. He recalled the wonderful days of working with Vernon Corea.

Bhareti joined the station when it was enjoying huge popularity, right across South Asia.Radio Ceylon ruled the airwaves and millions tuned in to the station from the vast Indian sub-continent.Bhareti’s mellow voice proved popular with local listeners in Sri Lanka as well as listeners on the All Asia beam of the station.

He became part of the institution at a time when Radio Ceylon was riding the crest of the radio waves. He was appointed by Livy Wijemanne who was by then Director of the Commercial Service of Radio Ceylon.Bhareti was mentored by senior broadcasters at the station, such as Vernon Corea who gave him his early training in the art of radio. In the early years, Nihal Bhareti assisted Vernon Corea in popular radio programmes such as Take It Or Leave It, broadcast in front of a ‘live’ audience, from a studio in Radio Ceylon. He was a quick learner and his adaptability coupled with a smooth, voice proved to be a hit with listeners of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Bhareti was a true professional.

Nihal Bhareti presented Radio Journal for a decade, this was a popular magazine programme with news, interviews, music and snippets. He was the voice behind such programmes as Holiday Choice,Housewive’s Choice, and Choice of the People, on the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.’ He has been in the forefront of key entertainment programmes in South Asia.Nihal Bhareti has presented the equivalent of the British radio programme ‘Desert Island Discs’ over the airwaves of the SLBC.Well known personalities, even Sri Lankan politicians have all been on the programme. He has interviewed many Sri Lankan music stars for the SLBC, including Nimal Mendis and Mignonne Fernando of the Jetliners.

Bhareti can still be heard on the airwaves and remains a firm favourite with listeners on the island of Sri Lanka. Quite apart from his work on radio, Bhareti has compered many entertainment shows in Colombo. He has also presented entertainment programmes on Sri Lankan television.

The late Tony Fernando was a pioneer in the field of popular music in Sri Lanka. He was truly an entrepreneur and was excited about popular music. He saw a gap in the music market in 1950s Ceylon and opened up the first ever shop selling records and radios called Tony’s Record Bar,’ in Bambalapitiya. It was the ‘in’ place to be for the next generation. Tony sold the latest music in his record shop and he started releasing records himself – his first ever signing was Nimal Mendis who went on to become a star. Tony recorded Nimal’s hit song ‘Kandyan Express’ and Radio Ceylon played the song over and over again.

Tony Fernando built up a friendship with Vernon Corea in the late 1950s. Vernon had joined Radio Ceylon as a relief announcer in 1956 and as a full time announcer in 1957. Tony was keen to receive airplay for his new protegees. When Vernon and his family lived in Templar’s Road in Mount Lavinia, Tony Fernando and his first wife were frequent visitors. Sadly she passed away in the early 1960s.

Tony Fernando went on to run the Lewis Browns recording studio and formed the hit making machine – Sri Lanka’s first ever super group The Jetliners. Vernon was impressed with young Mignonne Rutnam who had participated in a Radio Ceylon talent contest.

Later on Mignonne joined the line up with The Jetliners. Tony Fernando was her first manager and then her husband. Mignonne and the Jetliners reached the top of the music world in South Asia and South East Asia. They proved to be an absolute hit – over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon.Vernon played their songs on his popular radio programmes on the station.

The first ever superstar group from Sri Lanka - The Jetliners.

In the early days Vernon had introduced Mignonne and The Jetliners at the premier entertainment venue of the 1960s in Colombo, the ‘Coconut Grove’ at the famous Galle Face Hotel. Radio Ceylon also held their talent contests at the Coconut Grove.Vernon has also compered New Year’s Eve dances held at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo in the 1960s and 1970s.

Sri Lankan star Mignonne Fernando

Information on Mignonne Fernando on Wikipedia:

Having won Radio Ceylon‘s Talent Contest at the age of seven, a year later she wrote her first music composition. Her father. Arnold Rutnam, was renowned for his mathematical skills, and her mother, Marie was a devoted and much loved teacher of music.

As a student of St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo 7, Mignonne scored First position in her class throughout, except the one term when she took ill and was placed second. She participated in Theatre Productions and played Goal for the School Netball Team with equal enthusiasm.

Her interest in Law was overtaken by her passion for Music, and thanks to her mother, she received formal training in Western Classical Music, Speech and Drama. This proved to be her greatest strength and an excellent foundation to her musical career that was to follow.

“Her firsts in the history of popular music in Sri Lanka and her many musical achievements internationally have proved that Mignonne is a rarity by any standard.” Carl Myatt – South China Morning Post.

The early years

In 1965, Mignonne along with her group The Jetliners became an instant success under the excellent guidance of Manager/Husband Tony Fernando; and their popularity grew from strength to strength, wherever they performed. Radio Ceylon,introduced her music not only to a local audience but right across South Asia. During the early years Mignonne Fernando and the Jetliners enjoyed star billing at the Coconut Grove nightclub situated in the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo.

In 1969 she became the first Sri Lankan to be signed up by EMI Records UK, and Keith Prowse Music London. The Ceylonese ‘Wedding Song’ (Mangala Mohotha) was her first song to be copyrighted by KPM.

Her song “Love don’t let me down” won the Embassy Award at the World Popular Song Festival where renowned composers and artistes the world over are invited to submit compositions. Of over 1,200 entries, only 10 were selected to be eligible for the award. Another original composition “Someday my love” won the Matsushita Award and Special Jury Award for Composer and Performer at the Festival of Song.

A Sinhala composition “Oba Nisa” was selected for the Finals of the 5th Olympiad of Song in Athens, Greece where it won the Gold Medal. “Coconut Man” made the finals of the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo. This made her the only Woman Composer/ Performer to date to have been selected into the finals.

Mignonne Fernando

by Ilika Karunaratne

Daily News, Sat Jun 14, 2003: Every fairy tale has its own bete noire – A ‘Once upon a time’ or ‘happily married ever after’, also usually demands a thorn. To Mignonne Rutnam, as she was then, her fairy tale began, when she met Tony Fernando, when she was just sweet sixteen. He was first her Manager, and later, both husband and Manager. The thorn to them, was Tony’s illness and death, which was to take him away last year, after a 38 year old marriage, made in heaven.

Mignonne, has always been my favourite female Sri Lankan singer. Her voice in my ears, is like sun warmed honey, and no-one, then or now, can hold a candle to her. Each one of us takes the death of a loved one in a different way. Each of us swims in our own pool of grief; our own flood of memories. Loneliness becomes constant, memories become companions and darkness becomes a haven for fantasy. Mignonne’s first reaction to the shock, was to take herself away; to spend time with her daughter in Dubai. She then returned to immerse herself in work.

“Tony knew that I wanted to do this CD, and it was his dream too. Music to me, is a gift from God; I am forever in his debt, for this wonderful gift. My mother helped me to develop it, by her knowledge of it, and her encouragement. But it was because of Tony’s inspired management that my music sprouted and blossomed. I worked hard, to see that this dream of ours, Tony’s and mine, came true, by producing this album. It seemed to be an eternity in the making, but it has been a labour of love, and a total experience of mind, body and soul”, she said of her new CD released recently.

You have been away a long time. How would you describe those years? “Working at The Regent, Hongkong, was a truly enthralling experience. It is a place where the rich and famous gather almost daily, as you can see from the Daimlers parked outside. It was voted the world’s best hotel, for three years in a row, by The Institutional Investor. It rises above the glittering lights of Hongkong, on the very edge of the world’s most spectacular harbour”.

Mignonne showed me a picture of the room in which they sang, with enormous glass windows, almost the length and breadth of the room. She also related an interesting legend about it; that it is built in the path of the nine dragons, as dragons can walk through glass; so it doesn’t disturb their freedom of movement! The view seems panoramic, and at night, with an azure sky, the stars would look like diamonds., sparkling on dark silk.

“Our time there was really wonderful. It was the best years to be there too; meeting interesting people, organizing and creating music to suit individual tastes. There were various dimensions to performances; some would like old music, like Joe Loss for instance. We played at several traditional weddings too, society functions, with the sophistication of Chanel and Karl Lagerfield clothes, a Cartier launch of the perfume, ‘Panthere’, brings back nostalgic memories, of a real live panther, being carried in on a palanquin, by Nubian slaves. Julio Iglesius, who popularized that ubiquitous song, ‘All the girls I loved before’ performed at shows that we did.

Singers, dancers, comics, Broadway veterans, brought great entertainment, as well as the celebrity touch to the performances. So many shows with so many different themes; one was in the styling of ‘In a Persian market’, another was ‘A night in Manhatten’ I created the whole score of music for many of these shows. Often, after the star of the evening performed, we would play music for dancing. 2.30 a.m. is the time they call ‘carriages’ which means that the function was over and it was time to go home. Alan Zeman, is a famous figure in HongKong, who owns several clubs and streets in Hong Kong we played at his son’s ‘Bar Mitzah and played only jewish music on that occasion:”.

When was the beginning of your spectacular career in music? “We began right here in Colombo, at the Coconut Grove at The Galle Face Hotel. Our next spot was The Taj Mahal in Bombay, then to Singapore, where we won our first international awards. Our first break in Hong Kong, was at The Talk of the Town, which was a revolving restaurant. We came back here and performed too, before our long stay in Hong Kong”.

Sohan Peiris says that he owes everything he is today to Tony and you. What about the original jetliners? “The original jetliners are scattered all over the world now, but we did get together for a concert in Australia recently. We are all keen on performing here, where it all began and are working on it, and trying to work out sponsorship. Tony managed all hotel musicians in Hong Kong. He was a most gentle ruler, who ruled his kingdom of music, with a firm, but fair hand.

We formed a company for this and had 16 to 20 musicians under this umbrella. We played for almost every grand opening at The Regent, where the creme a la creme of Hong Kong would be present. We once had a millionaire who wanted to have dinner alone with his wife in the atmosphere of Sherwood Forest, with our band playing soft music.

We created this and he was so happy with the evening that he gave me a gift of a mink teddy bear. I had to give this to a child before I returned here, as the mink would not have stood our climate! Another wonderful memory was ‘The Captains Ball’, held by the Captain of The Q E 2. We had one band in the foyer, another playing light classical during dinner, and still another for dancing.

The joy of creating and organizing music left me little time for boredom. We used to practise two days in the week and perform for three days in the week. Our apartment was just next to the hotel. It was great fun while it lasted, but in 1997, we decided come back home, and go back only for seasons. Our two sons have finished University now and are both living and working in the US. The last two years for me, were devoted to Tony’s health and everything else came after that. I wanted to launch my CD in February, but I felt it was insensitive in the midst of the war in Iraq, to launch a CD, which was a celebration of life”.

What of the future? I would like to do seasons in the US, where my sons are. I would very much enjoy doing the musical score for a Sinhalese film. I like to be flexible and introduce new concepts in music”. Mignonne’s world has been a kaleidoscope; a constantly changing prism that mixed, mingled and overlapped to create shades and patterns. On stage, she is the quintessential star of spellbinding presence; shimmering and shining.

To meet and talk to her on her own, she is a lovely person, with beauty of soul that somehow shines through. I almost cried as I listened and watched her on video, singing ‘I am proud to be Sri Lankan’, in all three languages, Sinhalese, Tamil and English. The background showing all the beauties of our country. Our beaches, the ruined cities, temples and our children of all communities, who are after all our future. This song, should I think be used on radio, on TV, on Sri Lankan, Airlines and by The Tourist Board. It is so beautiful and heart warming and could be a pathway to permanent peace.

“Wherever I may have wandered, I have never failed to take a part of Sri Lanka with me, and have always projected my country through my music. I wear either Kandyan saree or ‘Redda hatte’, and wear a ‘nalal patiya too’, when I sing in Sinhalese or Tamil. My heart has always been right here, in Sri Lanka, and I would like to do more for our country”.

Her soft, mellifluous voice as she speaks, radiates a special kind of spirituality, charm and originality. As a composer, lyricist and singer, she has no equal, and is the brightest star of the musical firmament in our country.

—

She has been dubbed ‘Sri Lanka’s Ambassadress of Song,’ Mignonne Fernando enjoys iconic status not only in South Asia but also in the Far East, where, for many years she was a resident musician at The Regent Hotel in Hong Kong. She will headline a massive concert in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka in March 2006. This will be an opportunity for fans of Mignonne and The Jetliners to re-live nostalgic memories of the 1960s and 1970s of the popular music scene on the island

Mignonne is truly an international star and has performed from the United States to Singapore. She has wowed audiences at the Taj in Mumbai in India for several years.

Mignonne Fernando exploded onto the Ceylonese music scene in 1963 when as Mignonne Rutnam she won a song contest on Radio Ceylon. The radio station is the oldest and one of the finest broadcasting institutions in South Asia.

Legendary broadcasters such as Livy Wijemanne, Vernon Corea, Jimmy Bharucha, Nihal Bhareti and Vijaya Corea played her music and that of the Jetliners over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon and subsequently the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, making her a household name.

Vernon Corea who had introduced The Jetliners at the Coconut Grove at Galle Face Hotel in Colombo in the 1960s played the music of The Jetliners on his popular radio program on BBC Radio London called ‘ London Sounds Eastern’ in the 1970s and 1980s – it was produced by top BBC man Keith Yeomans. Mignonne Fernando’s music reached new British audiences in the capital.

She was managed by the music mogul the late Tony Fernando who married her – he made her a star. Mignonne and the Jetliners had star billing in Sri Lanka. They represented the country at international song contests.

A pivotal moment came in 2003 when Mignonne Fernando released her first CD titled ‘A Celebration of Life.’ Mignonne told the media: ‘Tony knew that I wanted to do this CD, and it was his dream too. Music to me, is a gift from God; I am forever in his debt, for this wonderful gift. My mother helped me to develop it, by her knowledge of it, and her encouragement. But it was because of Tony’s inspired management that my music sprouted and blossomed. I worked hard, to see that this dream of ours, Tony’s and mine, came true, by producing this album. It seemed to be an eternity in the making, but it has been a labour of love, and a total experience of mind, body and soul‘, she said of her CD.

The Sunday Observer in Sri Lanka noted: ‘Mignonne drew her early musical influences she tells us, from Franz Liszt, George Gershwin, Quincy Jones her favorite, Diana Ross and the many well known gospel singers. The music of the Motown World, Jazz and Dave Griusin hold a special place for her inspiration-wise.

The highlights of your CD?

“Mangala Mohotha, the lyrics for which is by the late Karunaratne Abeysekera, I arranged and performed the song and introduced the flute by Sajeewa Gurusinghe. There’s the song ‘Proud to be Sri Lankan’ for which the inspiration came fast after I saw the Imax film ‘Blue Planet’ – the journey of the space shuttle and when the astronauts said “there down below is beautiful Sri Lanka.”

It took me by surprise I was spurred to compose. The lyrics came equally fast like the melody. Our people are forgetting what a beautiful country we live in and I hope the message I’m projecting in the song will be a lasting one.

There are other tracks like ‘Den Nivadu Kale’, my version of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ which was featured on VOA by Judy Massa and broadcast on Simultaneous Satellite Broadcast Worldwide.” And of course the Overture which I wrote for the Mignonne and the Jetliners Australia 2000 tours, ‘ she said.

An outstanding track on her CD ‘Celebration of Life‘ is called ‘Island Song’ a fusion of hip hop and tabla. This song deserves to be played on western radio stations – by all accounts it should be an international hit if only someone would promote the very best of Sri Lanka’s musicians in the west.

Mignonne received a huge ovation when she appeared on stage at a ‘Grand Salute to Vijaya Corea’ at the BMICH in Colombo. She will play Colombo in March 2006 before spending time in the United States.

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Archives

BOOK ON VERNON COREA

Read the eBook on Vernon Corea - click on the picture for the eBook in pdf format

THANKSGIVING SERVICE

A Service of Thanksgiving marking the 10th Death Anniversay of Vernon Corea - click on the picture to see the Order of Service.

RUKSHAN PERERA’S TRIBUTE

Sri Lankan mega star Rukshan Perera wrote a special composition, 'When Angels Fly,' and dedicated it to Vernon Corea at the Thanksgiving Service. Watch the film on You Tube.

BATHIYA & SANTHUSH TRIBUTE

Sri Lanka's super stars Bathiya & Santhush released a special message on Vernon Corea. Click on the Watchout Magazine picture to read the message.

MARIAZELLE GOONETILLEKE’S TRIBUTE

Sri Lankan Mega Star Mariazelle Goonetilleke, paid a tribute to Vernon Corea at the Thanksgiving Service and sang 'Wind Beneath My Wings.' Vernon was one of the first to write about Mariazelle in his EMCEE Column in the Ceylon Daily News in the 1960s. Click on the picture to see the You Tube film.

NIMAL MENDIS ON VERNON COREA

The legendary Sri Lankan singer/songwriter Nimal Mendis of 'Master Sir,' 'Ganga Addara' fame paid a tribute to Vernon Corea at the Thanksgiving Service. Nimal Mendis wrote the hit song for autism, 'Open Every Door,' dedicating it to Vernon's grandson, Charin Corea. Click on the picture to see the You Tube film of Nimal singing 'Light Floods In.'

VIJAYA COREA ON VERNON COREA

Leading Sri Lankan media personality and former Director-General of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Vijaya Corea's tribute to his cousin Vernon Corea. Click on the picture to see the You Tube film.

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER AT THANKSGIVING SERVICE

The British High Commissioner, His Excellency John Rankin, attended the Thanksgiving Service for Vernon Corea .